Elections are considered vasive throughout the developing world, giving rise to concerns that they facilitate corruption and inhibit economic growth, as the voters are prevented from holding the elected officials accountable. There are many ways to manipulate elections, including voter intimidation, ballot box stuffing, and changing vote totals after ballots are cast. When election outcomes can be manipulated through fraud, government officials may no longer have an incentive to perform or respond to their constituents’ needs. Worse, elected officials may engage in corrupt behaviour that hinders socio-economic growth. This lack of electoral accountability perhaps explains why, despite the proliferation of democratic institutions across the globe, corruption and poor governance remain persistent problems, especially in the developing nations
Furthermore, incumbents who rig elections need to think about two main audiences: their own people and the international community. The degree to which they prioritise one audience over another depends on the country’s control of information flows and how well positioned it is without international aid or international legitimacy. For countries that have a strategic relationship with global powers, the spectre of lost international legitimacy by virtue of rigging an election is less threatening than a country that is of little strategic value to global powers and also relies on international aid. However, even in countries in which the international community has minimal leverage over the incumbent regime, if the citizens find out that the election was rigged, it can produce serious consequences (mass protests, general strikes, or a loss of popular legitimacy that lingers on in the form of a higher risk of coups, revolutions, insurrection, or civil war).
Electoral malpractice will have the following effects on the people and society at large.
- Electoral malpractice weighs negatively on the legitimacy of government. This means that the government of the day lacks the support and recognition of the people.
- It discourages political participation of the citizens.
- Electoral malpractice enthrones leaders that lack accountability and responsibility.
- It leads to violence and social unrest in the society.
- It also results in wastage of resources.
- Electoral malpractice waters the plant of political godfatherism, thuggery, and hooliganism.
- It may lead to a lack of development because those elected might be incompetent and lack the knowledge to fulfil their position.
- The electorate will not enjoy the dividends of democracy
And lastly we hope all institutions know this if not, then should know this for the good of the country.
